A mom walks into the Grace Care Center, nervous. The bills have piled up, her fridge is nearly empty, and she’s not sure how much longer she can hold it all together. She has already come to expect shame, and a handout.
But instead, she’s greeted by someone who is excited to meet her, handed a shopping cart and is paired with a volunteer who smiles and says, “I’ll walk with you.”
This is what dignity looks like. This is what hope looks like.
And this is why Sunday of Service matters so much.
Each year, our church steps outside the walls and becomes the hands and feet of Jesus in a very real way. We use this time to pack boxes, carry groceries, and stock shelves. We gather food so that when families walk through the doors of the Care Center, they don’t see scarcity.
Though a large portion of the weekend is in preparation to continue to serve those friends throughout the rest of the year, Sunday of Service isn’t just about filling a pantry.
Sometimes, when volunteers show up, they discover the Care Center for the first time. They see the need up close. During the day, it is easy to realize that this isn’t only “outreach.” but these are our neighbors, our coworkers, and our friends. The families sitting next to us at football games and waiting in line at the grocery store.
Every can of soup, bag of diapers, box of cereal is more than food. In many cases, it’s love, disguised in a practical form. Love like this spreads and builds trust. Love can open the door to deeper conversations, to prayer, to healing.
Since opening, the Care Center has served hundreds of thousands. But this year, the number that matters most is one. One mom. One child. One family. Each life changed because a church chose to step out of the pews and into the streets.
Sunday of Service isn’t just a day on the calendar. It’s a glimpse of the Kingdom. And you are invited to be part of it.